W what That sounds dodgy Tomorrow we ll go downtown and watch the Stam pede parade I hope you like barbequed hamburgers Leah Amanda's mom brought out colourful paper plates and a jug of pink lemonade I love burgers I seldom get them barbequed Thanks ever so much Mrs Ross I mean Evelyn The sun shone brightly as they made their way to downtown Calgary on the crowded C train the next morning Thousands of people wearing cowboy out fits lined the streets waiting for the parade Store fronts were decorated to look like a wild west town with bales of hay scattered everywhere The smell of tried sausages and maple syrup filled the air Let's stop here first for a pancake breakfast Amanda's mom pointed to a covered wagon with a long line up of people all in jeans cowboy hats and western shirts When they got to the front of the line they noticed a fellow in a huge cowboy hat and a bigger smile flipping pancakes Another man plunked two pancakes and two sausages on a paper plate He placed a square of butter on each pancake and poured maple syrup over everything Here you are young ladies Enjoy he said as he handed them each a plastic knife and fork rolled up in a paper napkin He put syrup on my sausages whispered Leah to Amanda Don't worry It'll be good They found a shady spot under a large maple tree where they sat on bales of hay and ate their breakfast Yum this is good said Leah as she wiped syrup off her chin With full tummies Amanda's mom led the girls through the swelling crowd to a good viewing spot in
front of the high rise building where she worked Chairs were set out with a sign that read RESERVED FOR D R ACCOUNTING I feel so special said Leah You should you are our special guest Amanda gave her friend's arm a squeeze T m so glad you came for a visit We'll have so much fun Just then a loud BOOM sounded the start of the parade Amanda and Leah sat spellbound as march ing bands in smart uniforms fancy baton twirlers cowboys and cowgirls wearing colourful sequinned shirts riding on decorated horses funny floats and First Nations people wearing traditional feather headdresses passed by A clown stopped in front of the girls to hand out candies He wasn't laughing though In fact Amanda thought he looked quite sad His eyes glanced into the crowd as if searching for someone He hitched up his baggy pants and an object fell on the ground Suddenly the clown turned around and ran down the street in his oversized shoes Children laughed as he almost tripped over his feet Amanda shouted after him Hey you dropped something But he was too far away to hear She picked up the stone object put it in her pocket and continued to watch the parade as a bagpipe band came by I can't believe you have bagpipes over here too My dad would be impressed He loves them and used to play in a pipe band said Leah I love them too said Amanda When they play Amazing Grace I always cry Oh you definitely would have cried when you heard my dad play He was awful Both girls giggled A beaming Stampede Princess wearing a tiara waved at them from her snow white
Amanda remembered the stone later that night before she went to bed She took the smooth flat rock out of her jeans pocket and rolled it over in her hand It was a dark grey colour about the size of a loonie She noticed a faint mark on the stone in the shape of a V I wonder what that means she mumbled She placed the rock on her book shelf and crawled into bed beside a jet lagged Leah already asleep Happy that her BFF was there with her she soon fell asleep
Chapter 2 Amanda's mom served toast at the breakfast bar the following morning Are you over your jet lag Leah Oh yes Mrs I mean Evelyn I slept well last night It s too bad you missed Amanda's dad He went into the office early Hey how would you like to go to a real ranch with real cowboys That would be so great I've only seen ranches on the telly They have way cool horses at the ranch we're going to said Amanda She stuffed the rest of the toast in her mouth and jumped off the stool eager to get going Leaving the busy city behind they drove past golden fields of wheat and through rolling green hills towards the snow capped Rocky Mountains in the distance These are called The Porcupine Hills said Aman da You do have funny names for places replied Leah There it is Amanda pointed to words burnt into a slice of wood that read BAR U RANCH Why do you think it is called the Bar U Ranch Mom asked Amanda I believe that's the brand the rancher puts on his cattle to prove they belong to his ranch Do they paint it on asked Leah No They use a hot branding iron to burn it onto the side of the calf That way it stays on the animal for the rest of its
